standstill

Definition

Complete immobility; a halt.

Etymology

From stand + still, a deverbal from stand still. Compare Dutch stilstand (“standstill”), German Stillstand (“standstill”), Danish stilstand (“standstill”).

Example Sentences

• "The wreck brought traffic to a standstill for hours."
• "Despite all these precautions, however, severe storms sometimes caused drifts which brought traffic completely to a standstill."
• "[...] but in the damp conditions prevailing the driver sensibly was unwilling to attempt the climb up through Combe Down tunnel without help, for fear of slipping to a standstill in the unventilated bore, [...]."